Southwest New Family Boarding (test)

StarDreamer · May 5, 2015

I love picking my seat when boarding as well. Boarding has always been very orderly, have never had a problem finding a seat, and have never encountered a seat saver. I did a lot of research for our kids' first flight to make sure I was prepared and my DH also asked when we arrived. Flights have always been on time or landed early. I don't feel the need to look at any other airline because we haven't had a bad experience yet. If I didn't like the way seat assignments were handled, I'd just pick a different airline.

LisaS · May 5, 2015

Disneychix said:
I honestly can't believe you've never encountered seat savers but I guess if you always buy EBCI you might not be getting on the plane after or wanting the seats that these people are saving. It is a huge problem for the routes I fly.

I stated I had encountered one seat saver. A woman was sitting in a window seat, the middle and aisle were open. I asked her if the two seats next to her were available and she said, in a very nice way, that she was hoping to save a seat for her husband who it turned out was close behind us. There were plenty of good seats available so DH and I just moved on to another row.

Disneychix · May 5, 2015

supersnoop said:
Considering Southwest has the fastest turn-around time in the industry, I don't think you can call their boarding system outdated or confusing. It's faster than any other carrier.

I didn't say it was confusing, and as far as turn around time I'm sure the 2 checked bags helps SW on their turn around time as less carryons would = faster turn around.
I'm not against SW and I do fly them the most as they have the best selection of direct flights from my local airport. But I do see issues with their boarding style and for me, when travelling with my family I'd rather be prepared up front and have assigned seats than worry about where we will all sit.

jdb in AZ · May 5, 2015

I was in an aisle seat and the middle seat was open. A flight attendant wanted to move out of the aisle he was blocking, so he asked if I'd temporarily move over, unless I was saving the middle seat. I couldn't help saying, "I thought seat saving wasn't allowed." He got a big grin out of that.

lost*in*cyberspace · May 5, 2015

jdb in AZ said:
I was in an aisle seat and the middle seat was open. A flight attendant wanted to move out of the aisle he was blocking, so he asked if I'd temporarily move over, unless I was saving the middle seat. I couldn't help saying, "I thought seat saving wasn't allowed." He got a big grin out of that.

Southwest has no policy about saving seats.

goofy4tink · May 5, 2015

I've seen very few seat savers on the Boston and Providence flights to Orlando and Ft Lauderdale. I have seen, though, people biarding in the late C group, complain that they can't find seats together for their family. Then, the FAs make an announcement asking for volunteers to switch seats. I not switching seats. I paid the addtl money to be able to have a better chance of a seat I wanted.
There is plenty of carry on with SW. But they still have a great turn around record. If a family doesn't want to take the chance if not getting seats where they like, then they should probably fly with a different airline.

winterwhite · May 6, 2015

I've only had seat savers a few times. One was a really obnoxious guy who tried to stake out the whole exit row for his wife who was like C40. He was high As but not business select and I don't think he was A-list.

I had A-list preferred or whatever it was at the time and I called him out on it, and sent a letter to southwest when nobody did anything about it, pointing out that I fly them roughly 3 times a week and always in business select and I did not appreciate their supporting a passenger saving a premium seat for someone who should not be entitled to one by their boarding position. I got a $50 credit.

I normally don't care but when you're trying to save a seat for someone who is not even on the plane AND an extra seat you didn't pay for - the flight attendant should move you to the last row of the plane. My personal opinion.

Lewisc · May 6, 2015

Posters on FT say the only change is the age is now 8 and younger. Family mid-boarding is still between As and Bs.

A few years ago Southwest experimented with assigned seats. SW discovered customers prefer the present boarding system.

Southwest has planes with slightly different seat configurations. Assigning seats would make it harder to swap aircraft. Airlines which assign seats have to hold back seats. Full fare passengers, who book at the last minute, can't be stuck with middle seats. Seats have to be held back so famlies with young kids can sit together. The number of seats to hold back is a variable. Some (many) passengers won't book a flight if there aren't any seats available for selection at time of booking. I've read it might be necessary to block almost 1/3 of the seats.

Does it make sense to give the "best" seats to customers who book deeply discounted fares, early? or to customers who book full fare close departure?

I don't think the quick loading/unloading is as significant as it was 15 years ago.

seashoreCM · May 6, 2015

A few years ago Southwest experimented with assigned seats. SW discovered customers prefer the present boarding system.

Southwest made a wrong discovery.

When they tried assigned seats they randomly assigned passengers to seats. Customers did not like being assigned a middle seat with no choice. So the customers turned thumbs down on the idea.

Customers preferred the present boarding system over randomly assigned middle seats. No conclusion can be drawn regarding assigned seats in general.

Does it make sense to give the "best" seats to customers who book deeply discounted fares, early? or to customers who book full fare close departure?

I loved it (not luved it because the airline was not Southwest) when I was using an internet station at Disney Quest and saw that Song Airlines ("you could fly for a song") had an IPO with some cheap Thanksgiving week seats. I ran upstairs to a pay phone and booked my next Disney trip and selected exit row seats just for the asking. (Song's parent, Delta, had more stringent rules on who could select exit row seats and when.)

4under4 · May 6, 2015

Lewisc said:
Posters on FT say the only change is the age is now 8 and younger. Family mid-boarding is still between As and Bs.

If this turns out to be true, I will not be happy... especially flying out of MCO where we all know the majority of flyers are families. My parents have medical conditions which make it important for them to sit together... which is why I buy them EBCI. Not fair that anyone with a young child can skip the fee and board early. Want to sit together? Pay. The. Fee.

Magic Band Defender · May 6, 2015

4under4 said:
If this turns out to be true, I will not be happy... especially flying out of MCO where we all know the majority of flyers are families. My parents have medical conditions which make it important for them to sit together... which is why I buy them EBCI. Not fair that anyone with a young child can skip the fee and board early. Want to sit together? Pay. The. Fee.

But does anyone want to sit next to a small child whose parents are rows away? Does that benefit anyone? And over the years more people are Paying. The. Fee. Which means EBCI isn't what it used to be. On the routes I most frequently fly, EBCI *used* to guarantee seating in the low to mid A's. Now I see EBCI spots in the mid B's. If we are all buying EBCI, it becomes meaningless. We're lining Southwest's pockets for a benefit that is constantly decreasing in value.

Gracie09 · May 6, 2015

I would like to see Family Boarding after everyone who purchases EBCI is called, whether that after A or after B or wherever it lands. It seems the most "fair". Parents have the opportunity to purchase it if they feel they need it. People who do purchase it and end up in B don't see a large group of people who did not purchase it get on before them. Its kind of a win/win.

4under4 · May 6, 2015

Magic Band Defender said:
But does anyone want to sit next to a small child whose parents are rows away? Does that benefit anyone? And over the years more people are Paying. The. Fee. Which means EBCI isn't what it used to be. On the routes I most frequently fly, EBCI *used* to guarantee seating in the low to mid A's. Now I see EBCI spots in the mid B's. If we are all buying EBCI, it becomes meaningless. We're lining Southwest's pockets for a benefit that is constantly decreasing in value.

No, I don't want a small child sitting alone. I'm a mother of 4, I get it. And I know that more people are buying EBCI than ever before. But that's my point. EBCI patrons are in the Bs regularly now, so letting families board before them is entirely unfair unless said family paid for EBCI. Perhaps there needs to be a "Family boarding fee" that costs more than EBCI. Then families would have to make a real choice... Family boarding, EBCI, or take your chances that you can have seats together as you board at your assigned time.

sharona · May 6, 2015

I love the no reserved seats boarding process and it's nice not to have to worry that when the airline changes planes it will bump us from the seats we reserved 6 months prior only to place us in middle seats scattered all around! That happened on Alaska Air 3 times before our vacation last year. Every time I checked it said we had "no assigned seats" and I'd have to call in and have them re-reserve something together. We went from the front of the plane all 3 together in one row to the back of the plane and 1 person sitting a row behind the others. If I hadn't caught it and called we would have been each stuck in middle seats in separate rows for a 5+ hour flight.

I will always buy EBCI. It's the easiest decision I make when we travel. When comparing prices, I automatically add that to the SW fare when making my decision.

And while 4 may be young enough to board without assistance, no way would I let my DD sit between 2 strangers when she was 4 (5, 6 or even now at 12). Sorry to say it but pervs and child molesters are everywhere and they commit crimes of opportunity. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/...-boy-3-during-flight-to-Salt-Lake.html?pg=all

lost*in*cyberspace · May 6, 2015

sharona said:
......

And while 4 may be young enough to board without assistance, no way would I let my DD sit between 2 strangers when she was 4 (5, 6 or even now at 12). Sorry to say it but pervs and child molesters are everywhere and they commit crimes of opportunity. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/...-boy-3-during-flight-to-Salt-Lake.html?pg=all

That is ridiculous!

"Pervs and child molesters" are not everywhere. Your daughter is far more likely to be molested by a family member or friend than a stranger on a plane.

JanaDee · May 6, 2015

Disneychix said:
While I would beg to differ on the 'vast majority' of people that prefer this process, you've made my point that this style is outdated and must be grating on the FA. People are not considerate and do not care who paid what. People want to sit with their groups and don't really care who paid what to get on the plane in what order.

The FA can easily straighten out when someone is sitting in the wrong seat that was assigned. On SW, it's been my experience they do not do much about the seat savers.

Also, SW is getting very greedy as the extra fee seats now go into the "B" boarding and when coming from MCO you do get most families boarding between A and B so why did I just spend an extra $12 to get on after all these people that didn't pay?

"Outdated"? I think it's revolutionary.

bumbershoot · May 6, 2015

4under4 said:
My parents have medical conditions which make it important for them to sit together.

With medical conditions, perhaps they should consider medical preboard?

gwynne · May 6, 2015

sharona said:
I will always buy EBCI. It's the easiest decision I make when we travel. When comparing prices, I automatically add that to the SW fare when making my decision.

And while 4 may be young enough to board without assistance, no way would I let my DD sit between 2 strangers when she was 4 (5, 6 or even now at 12). Sorry to say it but pervs and child molesters are everywhere and they commit crimes of opportunity. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/...-boy-3-during-flight-to-Salt-Lake.html?pg=all

JMO, I really don't think it's the case that "pervs and child molesters are everywhere and they commit crimes of opportunity."
I am a little astonished by that statement. I don't think it's a particularly helpful way to empower an adult or a tween as they travel.

sharona · May 6, 2015

lost*in*cyberspace said:
That is ridiculous!

"Pervs and child molesters" are not everywhere. Your daughter is far more likely to be molested by a family member or friend than a stranger on a plane.

Take a look at the sex offender registry for your town/city/rural area and see if you still think that.

gwynne said:
JMO, I really don't think it's the case that "pervs and child molesters are everywhere and they commit crimes of opportunity."
I am a little astonished by that statement. I don't think it's particularly a particularly helpful way to empower an adult or a tween as they travel.

We'll have to agree to disagree. Would you let your 4 year old sit with strangers on a plane? If not, how old is old enough? I'm empowering myself to keep my daughter safe. She is empowered in situations that she has control over. Getting stuck next to a drunk or a creepy guy on a plane while I'm aisles away is not something I would ever want her to have to handle at that age.

4under4 · May 6, 2015

bumbershoot said:
With medical conditions, perhaps they should consider medical preboard?

My mom is diabetic, and my dad has blood pressure issues. They can easily take care of each other, and fly alone if necessary, but sitting next to each other with meds close at hand makes them feel safer.

Southwest New Family Boarding (test)

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